TRADE: a Transatlantic Research And Development Environment

The universal advancement of network and graphics technology, new business models and global infrastructure development are transforming the solitary, platform-centric 3D computing model. With the availability of global information highways, 3D graphical intercontinental collaboration will become a part of our daily work routine. The Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics (IGD) in Germany and the Fraunhofer Center for Research in Computer Graphics (CRCG) in the USA are looking ahead into a new age of telecommunication and cooperation by establishing a transcontinental computer graphics research effort and a proposed G-7 testbed. We are studying how 3D computer graphics and virtual environments can aid global collaborative work. We have focused our research efforts on determining how computer networks can transform the distributed workplace into a shared environment, allowing real-time interaction among people and processes without regard to their locations. Our research is part of a long-term project-the Transatlantic Research And Development Environment (TRADE).